Wildfires driven by extreme heat, strong winds, and suspected arson tore through southern Europe on Wednesday, destroying homes and forcing thousands of residents and tourists to flee.
The EU’s Joint Research Centre reported that fires have scorched nearly 440,000 hectares in 2025 — double the yearly average since 2006.
In Greece, blazes near the city of Patras set a cement factory ablaze, while evacuations were ordered on the islands of Chios and Cephalonia. “It looks like doomsday,” said volunteer Giorgos Karvanis.
Spain faced its tenth day of a record heatwave, with temperatures peaking at 45°C (113°F). A volunteer firefighter was killed in Castile and Leon, the sixth wildfire-related death in the country this year. Authorities say many fires may be deliberate, with several arrests and investigations underway. Lightning strikes also ignited blazes, including in Andalusia and Portugal’s Trancoso region.
In Albania, 24 fires raged, prompting evacuations from villages as residents fled with livestock.
Experts warn that without better forest management, firefighters are being sent into unsafe, unprepared landscapes. Greenpeace estimates that €1 billion annually in prevention could save an area the size of Portugal and €99 billion in firefighting and recovery costs.
Reuters/s.s